NPFL: Wikki, Nasarawa, Shooting Stars eye redemption as Rangers face Tornadoes test

The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) enters week 14 with several clubs desperate to halt poor runs and others eager to build on recent momentum.

In Bauchi, Wikki Tourists will be aiming for their fourth win in five matches when they host Bayelsa United. The Tourists have climbed to sixth place in the standings, just five points off the top, after a strong run that has seen them lose only once in their last four outings.

Their visitors, however, are also enjoying a purple patch, unbeaten in their last three matches with two wins and a draw, making this clash one of the weekend’s most intriguing contests.

Nasarawa United, meanwhile, are under pressure to end a four-game winless streak as they welcome El-Kanemi Warriors to Lafia. The Solid Miners, once leading the table, have slipped after a poor run that cost them a five-point advantage.

Their opponents, El-Kanemi, arrive buoyed by a morale boosting victory over Kwara United last weekend, their first in four matches.

In Ilorin, Shooting Stars will attempt to snap a three-game winless run when they face Kwara United. The Oluyole Warriors, who had enjoyed an unbeaten spell earlier in the season, have faltered again and now sit 15th on the table.

With their derby against Remo Stars postponed last weekend, Nurudeen Aweroro’s men will be keen to rediscover form against a Kwara side looking to consolidate mid-table stability.

At the Cathedral in Enugu, Rangers face a tricky test against Niger Tornadoes. The Flying Antelopes are just a point ahead of their visitors and will be determined to avoid a fifth defeat of the campaign.

Tornadoes, on the other hand, will be encouraged by their recent 2-0 win over Katsina United, which ended a two-game losing streak.

Champions Remo Stars continue to struggle this season and will be searching for only their second win in five matches when they host Barau FC in Abeokuta.

The Sky Blue Stars have been hampered by the departure of key players and uncertainty around coach Daniel Ogunmodede’s availability. Barau, sitting in the bottom four, will see this as an opportunity to exploit Remo’s weaknesses and climb out of danger.

In Warri, Wolves will be desperate to end a three-game winless run when they take on Kun Khalifat. The Delta side, who started the season brightly, have stumbled in recent weeks and now sit eighth after back-to-back defeats. Their visitors, Kun Khalifat, are equally under pressure, hoping to avoid a seventh loss of the campaign.

With several teams fighting to end winless streaks and others pushing for consistency, week 14 promises drama across NPFL venues.